Description

Thirty-one-year old Albert Kalonji was formerly a Government agricultural expert, and with Patrice Lumumba co-founder of the Congo National Movement (MNC). Later, he led moderates away from Lumumba's group; he opposed Lumumba's plan for a strongly centralised Congo, favouring a federal state. Further, as a Baluba tribesman, he clashed with the Luluas, Lumumba's chief supporters.

Joseph Kasa-Vubu is a political colleague of Kalonji. One of the first to demand immediate independence for the Congo, he led the Congo delegates at the first Brussels Round Table Conference. Educated in a Catholic seminary , he tends to be a mystic, believing his Bakongo tribesmen should be supreme in the Congo; he formed them into the Abako Party, with which Kalonji is in alliance. At one time he made overtures to President Yulu of the French Community's Congo Republic also a Bakongo-but an all-Congo Union is now thought unlikely. Some reports say he is the man most feared by Congo Europeans.

Nevertheless he was one of the welcoming party when Economic Affairs Minister de Schrijver arrive at Leopoldville Airport to be greeted by Congo Governor-General Cornelis and other dignitaries.

Antonio Gizenga, leader of the African Solidarity Party (PSA) is an enigmatic figure. he took time off form the Brussels Conference to visit East Germany and Czechoslovakia, but denies being a pro-Communist."The policy of the PSA consists in the unification of all African peoples in one-ness of spirit and heart. It intends to stand apart from all quarrels that divide East and West". Like most Congo parties it is essentially tribal in structure- supported by the Bapende. With Kalonji's MNC and the People's Party it forms a coalition known as the "Cartel".

In case approaching independence and elections cause renewal of inter-tribal violence, troop re-enforcements were flown to Leopoldville. Detachments of the crack Belgian Regiment, the Chasseurs Ardeunais, are to be stationed in the Atlantic port of Kitona and up-country in Kamina. They will supplement 24,000 native and 1,000 Belgian who form the Congo Army; the ir order forbid them to interfere in domestic affairs, bit their presence in the background will it is hoped - deter trouble-makers, and they will protect Belgium life and property if a crisis develops.